Libya’s disappeared: fears for fate of missing prisoners

In the rebel-held town of Benghazi, pictures line the walls of sons, fathers and brothers who have disappeared in Libya‘s ongoing internal conflict.

At the Red Crescent 415 people have been registered missing so far, with many believed to have been captured by Colonel Gaddafi’s forces.

Most are men fighting against the government, but the fate of a number of doctors and journalists is also unknown. Among them, an eminent Libyan cardiologist who was last seen in Ajdabiya on March 16.

“We were calling him but his cell phone was switched off,” a relative told Channel 4 News.

“Then an Egyptian friend managed to get through after 10 days. The person who answered said: “This is the phone of someone saving infidels in the streets”. I think he must be in Tripoli because the telephones aren’t working in Sirte.”

People are increasingly worried about relatives who have gone missing near the front lines in the disputed east of Libya. It is thought some may have been taken into custody at the government stronghold of Sirte – Col Gaddafi’s hometown.

One man who spoke to Channel 4 News under anonymity said he was held for several days in the town where he witnessed prisoners being dragged from cells, beaten and whipped.

Another said he escaped Gaddafi’s loyalists, who called the rebels “rats”.

“They put us in a cell and asked ‘Where are the rats?’,” he told Channel 4 News.

“We said we’re just volunteers giving first aid to civilians and soldiers on both sides, but they said ‘You’re helping the rats and distributing propaganda’. They hit us all over our bodies with sticks and tubes.”

Relatives captured

Families of the disappeared dread spotting a captured relative being paraded on state television.

Footage has been broadcast of lines of blindfolded men in stress positions lying face down on the floor, their hands bound behind their backs. Some are seemingly forced to declare loyalty to Col Gaddafi on camera.

Such is the fear of making the prisoners’ situation worse this one man didn’t dare reveal his identity as he told Channel 4 News the story of his five missing brothers, all fighters.

“We searched all the battle fields looking for their cars and amongst the dead bodies,” he said.

“We went to the hospitals but we never found them amongst the casualties. I tried everywhere but I got no information. Most of the people fighting with them have just disappeared too.”

Prisoners of war are also being held by the rebel authority in Benghazi.

Some are Libyan and others are accused of being African mercenaries hired by Col Gaddafi to fight for his cause. It seems their best chance is a prisoner swap – but until then families on both sides of the conflict can only wait and hope for news.